Hollow sealed stopper with interior storage space



M. FRESU April 22, 1969 HOLLOW SEALED STOPPER WIT INTERIOR STORAGE SPACE Filed oct. 1s, 1967 now INVENTOR Herr MICHELIN() FRESU BY mas M Fg l ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,439,826 Patented Apr. 22, 1969 U.S. Cl. 215-48 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hollow stopper provided with an interior cavity containing a tubular spring providing a storage space for an advertising message and being of sealed construction for exerting radial force due to their sealed cavity within the stopper body alternatively being of plastic construction or laminated layered construction.

Conventional cork Stoppers of the type having a tapered shape suffer from numerous drawbacks and deficiencies due to the low elastic tension in the portion of such stoppers which is in contact with the inner surface of the bottle neck and with the liquid within the bottle.

Such a drawback causes a strong inconvenience to the industry and to the commerce relating to beverages and is particularly acute with sparkling or champagne-type wines, since apart from the fact that it spoils the product, it often steals from the consumer that customary joyfulness which accompanies the loud uncorking of the bottles which takes place only when the stopper is perfectly elastic.

The attempts effected in order to correct such imperfections and deficiencies, or still better, to eliminate such, have always been unsuccessful.

The object of the present invention is an endodynamic and advertising stopper of cork, plastic material or the like, Working through compressed air on its interior and with radial elastic tension, which avoids the drawbacks which up to date have been lamented, but not solved.

The invention is illustrated only by way of nonlimitative exemplary embodiments in .the enclosed drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a stopper T, which is the object of the finding, which is comprised of cork elements joined through gluing and arranged in part horizontally and in part vertically, the representation being of the axonometric type;

FIG. 2 shows the stopper, partially in front section, in which an air cell 1 represents the primary endodynamic element and a tubular spring 2, which is hollow and radially elastic, is housed within the air cell 1, the spring having a cooperating endodynamic function;

FIG. 3 shows the stopper in which within the compression and expansion air cell 1, apart from the tubular or equivalent spring 2, a sheet 3 is housed which is rolled up and is provided with writings having an advertising character or any other character;

FIG. 4 shows the stopper T in which the air cell 1 extends into the upper surface where it is sealed by a removable closure member 4 which can be removed through a simple action on the part of the operator;

FIG. 5 shows, in front and part section, an embodiment of the stopper T having a relief head 5 which is cornposed of a lplastic material;

FIG. 6 shows, always in front elevation and partial section, an embodiment of the stopper T having a removable cap 6 which may be, wholly or in part, cornposed of a different material from that of the body of the stopper T;

' FIG. 7 shows the stopper T, in front elevation and partial section, with a head 8 inserted, carrying the body 7 of cork, formed by a series of elements joined together through gluing.

With reference now to the drawing, the invention consists substantially of a device comprised of a compression and expansion 'air cell 1, formed within the body 7 of a stopper made of cork or any conventional material, and of a tubular, hollow spring 2, of the radial elastic tension type, which is housed within the cavity of the cell itself. The result of this is, according to a first feature of the invention, that air cell 1, even by itself, Iand the tubular spring 2, or an equivalent spring, having a cooperating function, represent the potential endodynamic elements or members of the stopper T.

Another feature of the finding is representedby the fact that the stopper T is composed of superposed and joined elements, which give shape to the body of the stopper, in such -body being formed the housing lfor the air cell and for the tubular or equivalent spring.

Another feature of the finding is represented by the fact that the inner portion of the stopper T, apart from providing the function of a housing for the air cell 1, rnay serve as a container for a sheet or lamin or other suitable-material, lprovided with written, printed or engraved matter having an ladvertising nature lor any other meaning, and even for proportioned articles, presents or other hearty surprises.

Another feature of the finding is represented by the fact that the elements constituting the stopper T are horizontally and/ or vertically joined, and their number may vary, as it appears from the figures 0f the drawing, as well as the shape may vary from that of a cylinder to other desired shape.

Also the shape, which is preferably cylindrical, of the air cell 1 may vary, it being understood that said air cell 1 is in condition to carry out, under given conditions, its full function without need of the cooperation of the tubular spring 2.

Additional importance to the subject invention is acquired by the fact that the release head 5 illustrated in FIGURES 5-7 provides an opening which can be used for inserting additional advertising material. In this way, the' customer can insert his own advertising material if he should desire to do so.

Attention is invited to FIGURES 3-7 which show varying embodiments of the stopper. FIGURE 3 of the drawings illustrates a stopper made of cork material. The body of the stopper is formed by laminated elements 9; 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 joined and connected together by glue. An air cell 1 is provided on the interior of the stopper and houses a tubular spring 2 which is also radially elastic in the same manner as the air cell. Advertising material in the form of an article 3 such las a rolled-up sheet is inserted within the confinesv of the tubular spring 2.

FIG. 4 shows another front section of an embodiment of the stopper, made from cork material, in which the stopper is formed by the same laminated elements (from 9 to 14). In this case, the cavity extends into the upper surface of the head, where some advertising material may also be placed, in addition to within the spring 2 and the cell 1, and wherein the opening is indicated by 16 and the closure member by 4.

FIGURE 5 illustrates an important aspect of the invention wherein the stopper T a supplementing air cell 17 is formed, which is wholly or in part limited by a wall gap having the outside wall of a suitably flexible and contractible construction, whereas the inner wall is suitably stiff. Consequently, according to an important feature of the finding, an endodynamic device is obtained which is able to develop at the neck of the bottle or other container of a suitable type a strong elastic tension to assure a faultless seal of the stopper, even in the case of custody of particularly fluid liquids, and, through proper measures, also of strongly aerated liquids.

Moreover, the device of FIG. 5 includes stopper body T, an external wall 18 of the supplemental cell, a head 19, an internal equivalent wall 20, a hollow tubular spring 2, a primary air cell 1, which is equivalent to the air cell shown in the previous figures, the threaded hole 21 communicating with the air cell 1, a closure 22 for the hole which is inserted by a screwing action. All component parts of the type of stopper T have a supplementing cell as discussed previously.

Another feature of the invention is represented by the stopper which is shown in FIG. 6 of the drawing. Said stopper, in effect, includes an extension of the primary cell 1 to extend into a closure cap 6. This stopper has the shape of a slightly truncated cone in order to facilitate its insertion into the neck of the container, and it is composed of the following parts: a body of the stopper 7, an internal wall of the supplementing air cell 20', a primary air cell 1, an access hole 23 of the air cell,` a threaded enlargement 24, a cavity 25 representing'the eX- tension of the air cell 1. As it is shown in the drawing, the Stoppers illustrated in the FIGURES 5 and 6 have th'e characteristic that they have the head n open condition, since it is hollow, to the end of increasing the air capacity of the body of the stopper 7. The closure of the head of FIG. 6 being obtained through a screw member adapted to the body of the stopper itself.

Another feature is represented by the stopper illustrated in the FIG. 7 of the drawing. In addition to the joined elements insaid stopper, one can see the Vfollowing component parts: a compression and expansion air cell 1, a hollow tubular spring 2 of the radial elastic tension type, a head 26 which may be made of wood or other suitable material with a central hole surrounded by lan internal hollow space'having a cylindrical section. Furthermore, one may observe together with the hole 23 of the air cell a shutting member 27, said member ensuring, under pressure of a cap 6, the tight seal of the air cell 1.

The advantages which are obtained through the stopper of the finding, in respect to what is hitherto known, are: avoiding the tapered stopperwarranty of elasticitymore exibility-more sealing powerbetter thermostatic performancea louder sound when uncorking-the possibility of reusing the stopper.

The stopper achieves the purpose of allowing the inserting operations of the material within the cavities in the body of the stopper T to take place at the mst'suitable places and in a form more correct and more agreeable for the consumers. In effect, the so provided stopper allows the introduction and the extraction of the advertising material without the need of a previous breakingof the body of the stopper.

What I claim is:

1. An endodynamic stopper of the compressed air and radial elastic tension type, comprising a stopper body deiining a compression and expansion air cell, formed within the body of the stopper, a hollow, tubular spring, yof elastic radial tension type, housed within the cavity of the air cell, said air cell and hollow tubular spring having cooperating functions representing the potential endodynamic elements ofthe stopper or closure element.

2. An endodynamic stopper of the compressed air and radial elastic tension type according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the stopper body iscomposed of a number of laminated glued elements which are superposed and horizontally joined with said air cell being formed therein within which the hollow tubular spring is housed.

3. An endodynamic stopper of the compressed airand radial elastic tension type according to claim 1 character-I ized by the fact that the stopper body is formed of plastic material and includes a small closure or shutting stopper which may be easily inserted in an access hole in the, air cell which has an enlarged portion serving for the direct introduction of advertising matter.

4. An endodynamic and advertising stopper according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the shutting element is removable and is in the form of a stopper.

5. An endodynamic and advertising stopper according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that within the body of the stopper a supplementing air cell is formed between an external wall which is flexible and contractible and an internal wall which is stiff and rigid, so that an endodynamic device is obtained which develops at the neck of the bottle a stronger elastic tension to ensure a faultless tight seal for the stopper.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS GEORGE T. HALL, Primary Examiner. 

